Here is the low down on College Applications & SAT's

Junior Year

First off, you need to start making plans way in advance. I recommend starting in the summer of your Junior year. Start talking to friends who are seniors, your cousin who is an Ivy League lawyer and visit you loser uncle at the trailer park to get an idea of what you don't want to do. But seriously, call or e mail colleges you may be interested in and ask for their prospectus. Most importantly, start thinking about what you want to study after High School. As I learned, it's never to early to start.

The SAT's

Secondly, start studying for the SAT's. I cannot emphasize how important this test is. Start by finding a good vocabulary list. I recommend Baron's and Princeton Review. They are available at Borders, Barnes & Noble and Crown. A good list is normally at least 600-1000 words strong, i.e. words you do not know. Remember, do not study a dictionary. The SAT does not expect you to be a lexicographer. They know you are a high school student and don't expect the world from you. This brings me to the point that you must have an idea of what the standardized testing system is about and what it's goals are. You must have a focused view of what you need to work on. For the math section, practice is essential. Get 10 Real SAT's by The College Board from the bookstore. It makes for great practice. Review your math concepts, especially the ones you get wrong most often on practice tests. It takes at least 6 months to study for this exam, if you plan on continuing school at the same time. And work hard. Lets face it, this test plays a major role in you college future, and hence where you will end up in life.

Applying to Colleges

Take some time to surf the web. I recommend Peterson's. Also visit Apply. Apply is a godsend. It is a non profit organization that helps you find a college based on a plethora of criteria, file college applications electronically, get financial aid and scholarships and stay organized. I personally applied to 9 colleges using it! Once you have a list down, start calling these colleges for their entire application package (i.e. Application, Prospectus and info). Also visit their web sites. They usually have online forms from where you can request almost anything. Act fast since you may want to apply early decision to colleges that seem particularly attractive to you. Make sure you fill all forms, take all tests and fulfill all requirements since incomplete applications are not evaluated.

Getting Scholarship Money

This is a very important part of applying to college and must be dealt with in the same alacrity that is relegated to the process of filling out the froms and writing essays. I recommend visiting Fastweb, to find a good scholarship resource. look at book sin your public library. There is a lot of scholarships out there, especially for minorities, children of alumni and specia; programs. most importantly, do not assume that you will not get a scholrship because you do not fit into any of those categories. There is billions of $'s waiting for you!

Getting Financial Aid

You need to fill out a FAFSA form, and in some cases a PROFILE. FAFSA is free but PROFILE costs $15 to file. The due date for FAFSA forms in most colleges is Feb 15. Financial aid is a great perk for those who are eligible. Smal schools are particularly generous since it helps them to attract students.

Some Colleges You Should Check Out

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